Door-check.



T. MERTSHEIMER.

DOOR. CHECK. APPLICATION FILED MAR.2o,1913.

Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

FBEDEIICK MERTSHEIMER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

DOOR-CHECK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

Application led March 20, 1913. Serial No. 755,796.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK MERTSHEI- MER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of'Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door- Checks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and V.figures of reference marked thereon, which vform a part of this specification.

My invention relates to door checks, and more particularly to a device for holding a partially opened door against further inward movement, so that the door may be opened to allow a person at the inside of a dwelling to converse or receive small packages through the door, but to be protected against anyone who might wish to force the door open in order to enter the house.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a device of this class which may be easily and quickly dropped into place when the door is shut, and is adapted for automatic locking engagement with the floor socket when the door is opened so that it would be impossible for a person to reach through a partially opened door to remove the check.

In accomplishing this object I have provided improved 'details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a perspective view of a door check constructed according to my invention, shown in position on the floor and illustrating its relation to the door which it is adapted to check. Fig II is a perspective view of the check and socket member showing the socket member in the floor to illustrate its mounting and combination with the check member. Fig. III is a plan View of the check, showing the open and locking positions of the socket key. Fig. IV. is an inverted perspective view of the socket and thekey showing the relation of the key to the slot when the check is in operative position.

Referring more in detail to the parts:- 1 designates the check member which is preferably constructed of malleable iron, brass,

ends of which project past the body 2 and have beveled forward faces 4, the body l being preferably inclined downwardly from the top of the plate 8 and provided with a bearing lip 5.

On the bo-ttom of the body 2 is a shank 6 having a key 7 (preferably T-shaped, as shown) on its free end, the head of which extends parallel to the face of the plate 3 and is adapted for locking engagement with a 'loor socket 8 which is set in the floor just within the doorsill, or at a point determined by the width to which the opening of the door is to be restricted.

The socket 8 preferably comprises a tubular body 9, having a collar 10 at the top and a slot 11 in its bottom, the collar being adapted to seat in a rabbet which may be formed in the floor` for that purpose, the length of the body being such that the bottom of the socket will be exposed beneath the floor and the slot being arranged to lie at a right angle to the door sill adjacent to which the socket is located. After the socket is placed, teeth 12 may be expanded from the body portion into the floor in order to lock the socket in place.

In using the check, presuming the parts to be constructed as described, and the socket or other cast metal, and comprises a body member 2, having a frontface plate 3, the.

placed in the floor at the desired distance from the door sill, when it is necessary to open a door at night and the occupant of the house fears' that the person at the door might try to force an entry into the house, before the door 'is opened the check is pla-ced in position by dropping the shank 6 into the licor socket so that the key 7 will drop into the slot l1. With the shank in the socket the check is given a quarter turn to bring the face of the plate 3 parallel with the door sill. When the door. is opened, with the check in this position, the base rail of the door will either engage the face of the plate 3 or one of the beveled ends thereof, in the lastl instance the engagement with the beveled face causing the check to turn automatically until the face of the plate 3 is Hush against the door rail, the turning, however, being not sutcient to break the locking relation of the key 7 with the ioor socket. It is apparent that with the check in this position the door will be held against further inward movement, and that should yit be possible for anyone at the outside of the door to reach through the opening, he could not lift the check out of the socket on account of the locking relation of the key 7 y A with the slotted base of the socket. It is also apparent that with a check of this construction the door may be left open efor ventilation without danger of exposing the house to robbers or to anyone whom the occupant ofthe house might not wish to entrer Without Y his knowledge.

I claim as new therein, and desireto secure by Letters-Patent, is Y A door check'comprising a body member having a depending shank, whereby the check may be pivotally anchored, and la bearingface onvthe front end of said check comprlsmg a flat central portion having 1 baekwardly beveled end wings, adapted for Contact with a door to automatically adjust the bearing face, substantiall as set forth.

In testimony whereof I a x my signature in presence of two witnesses.. l

. FREDERICK MERTSHEIMER.

Witnesses;

ARTHUR W. GAYS,

LETA E. CoArs. 

